LAYERED BEATS - PART 1

In this lesson we look at layered beats for the
first time. Layered beats are very difficult to play accurately,
every subdivision needs to be perfect, and because you have so many
voices landing at the same time there has to be no splitting or
flamming between the notes. Also the patterns are very involved so
there needs to be a large dynamic contrast between the soft and loud
notes, and also sound contrast, to make the patterns groove.

Here is the beat we will look at in this lesson..

To start with you need to break down each voice
and learn that first. We will start with the hihat part. You are
playing beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the shoulder of the stick on the
edge of the hihat, and the +a 16th notes with the tip of the stick
on the top of the hihat. Make sure you are getting this sound
contrast and not just hitting all the notes on the top or edge. The
hihat part is this..

Next let's look at the snare drum part, which
uses super soft ghost notes (drop stick from 2cm) with rimshots on
beats 2 and 4..

When you put the hands together, make sure
everything is landing exactly together with no splitting or flamming
between parts..

Finally, we will add the bass drum underneath
playing a samba pattern. The downbeat should be slightly louder than
the proceeding 16th note..